Conference Preview: MVC Valley

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-18, 24.3% of scoring returning):</strong> Of last year's top nine scorers, five graduated, and another three transferred to new schools, so there will be a ton of new faces taking the floor this winter for the J-Hawks. [player_tooltip player_id='2325290' first='Avonus' last='Hodges'] (6.6) is the only returnee among the top nine, and he'll be asked to do a lot for this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hempstead (2-20, 65.4%): </strong>The Mustangs won their first game of the regular season and their last game, with 19 straight losses coming between those two victories. Only three of their losses came by single digits, so they'll be looking to be more competitive this season. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1759932' first='Reed' last='Strohmeyer'] (13.6) is the top returnee, and in all, three of the top four, and six of the top eight, return, so there is some reason to expect them to be a bit more competitive this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iowa City West (12-11, 86.4%): </strong>The Trojans were close to having a great year last season, with five losses coming by a single possession, and nine coming by single digits. The top five scorers return from that team, and with additional experience, they should have better luck closing out games this year. Junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (16.0, 3.9 blocks) leads a trio of double-figure scorers who return. A nationally ranked prospect who can stretch the floor and protect the rim at 6-8/6-9, he has added improved ball-handling and shot creation to his arsenal over the summer, which should be terrifying for opposing teams. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1376672' first='Jacob' last='Koch'] (10.5, 40.5 3P%) is a skilled shooter who can play with or without the ball, and [player_tooltip player_id='1171670' first='Kareem' last='Earl'] (10.5, 51.2 FG%) is one of the best wing scorers in the state when he's healthy. [player_tooltip player_id='1256297' first='TaeVeon' last='Stevens'] (9.3) is a quick, athletic guard who can shoot it from anywhere, and sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1765527' first='Julian' last='Manson'] (8.3, 6.4 rebounds) was very productive as a freshman, giving them some size and athleticism in the paint. With the top five returning to a team that was really clos to being really good last season, the Trojans could push Kennedy and Senior at the top of the division and be a contender in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kennedy (22-1, 56.6%): </strong>The Cougars were absolutely dominant last season, routinely blasting teams by 30+ points and rolling to an undefeated regular season. The dream was cut short by Pleasant Valley in the quarterfinals, a game in which Kennedy simply didn't play well, and while they lost two great guards in Kenzie Reed and Colby Dolphin, they should expect to be right back in championship contention this season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1171679' first='Micah' last='Schlaak'] (12.3, 7.0 rebounds) is the top returnee. He's a 6-7 big man who can score inside and out with remarkable efficiency, and he can also protect the rim on the defensive end. He has committed to play his college ball at D2 Southwest Minnesota State. [player_tooltip player_id='1171687' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'] (9.4, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 steals) is an elite athlete on the perimeter and will be the team's top defender. He's big, athletic, and long, and he can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='1381415' first='Trey' last='McKowen'] (6.2, 41.1 3P%) was great off the bench as a sophomore and will step into the lead guard spot this season, a tough and talented two-way player. [player_tooltip player_id='1288851' first='Trevan' last='Krumrei'] (5.5) is a long wing who can really shoot it, and he'll provide some scoring punch on the wing, while [player_tooltip player_id='1381406' first='Landon' last='Deiters'] (3.4) is a strong, physical presence in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id='2325410' first='Griffin' last='Gerdes'] (2.7) and Jace Scott (2.8) are a pair of veteran guards who play strong defense and keep the ball moving as well. That group coming back would have been enough for the Cougars to be the favorite in the division, but they also added some reinforcements via transfer in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='1171667' first='Joseph' last='Bean'], [player_tooltip player_id='1288858' first='Marty' last='Blakey'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1288854' first='Rashad' last='Gatewood']. Bean, a star point guard who comes from Xavier, averaged 14.5 points and 4 assists as a junior and he'll give the Cougars a skilled two-way guard who can handle the ball and play strong on-ball defense. Blakey and Gatewood both come from Cedar Rapids Jefferson and are explosive athletes on the wing who can defend and thrive in transition. This should be another dominant season for Kennedy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior (19-4, 53.5%): </strong>The Rams were the best defensive team in 4A last season, allowing just 43.2 points a game on the strength of their size, athleticism, and depth. They lost five key rotation pieces from last year's team, but bring back their top two scorers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1376678' first='Jacob' last='Williams'] (12.4, 7.6 rebounds) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1172887' first='Tevin' last='Schultz'] (10.2, 58.6 FG%), giving them a pair of big men who can control the glass and protect the paint. Williams was dominant throughout the summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2078380' first='Iowa' last='Mavs'], showing an improved face-up game, and he looks primed to have a huge senior season. Schultz is one of the best 2026 prospects in the state, a mobile 6-8 forward who does a little bit of everything. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1381411' first='Jalen' last='Johnson'] (6.6) is a bouncy athlete who can rebound at a high level on both ends, and senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1198430' first='Nicholas' last='Kennedy'] (2.8) had a great summer with the Mavs as well, looking like a completely different player. Look for sophomore guards [player_tooltip player_id='1765555' first='Drake' last='Medinger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1765536' first='Cooper' last='Porter'] to step in and contribute this season as well in the backcourt. Senior is once again going to be really good on the defensive end, the question for them will be how they perform offensively against the better teams on the schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Waterloo West (17-6, 28.6%):</strong> The Wahawks lost their top two scorers, and four of their top five, to graduation, and then lost their head coach after Cliff Berinobis resigned last month. New interim coach Derrick Slater will have a few talented, experienced pieces coming back to build around in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1381413' first='Jahlil' last='Manago'] (8.6, 5.8 rebounds) and [player_tooltip player_id='1440839' first='Joseph' last='Hudson'] (5.2). Manago is a big, athletic guard who can create off the dribble, contribute on the glass, and defend a few different positions on the perimeter, while Hudson is a physical forward who can also step out and occasionally stretch the floor. Outside of that tandem, however, there isn't much experience returning, so they will be leaned on heavily, especially early in the year as new faces get broken in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier (20-7, 15.8%): </strong>Things changed quickly for the Saints when Bean announced that he was transferring to Kennedy. The Saints went from a possible 3A contender to a team that could struggle to remain competitive against the top teams in the conference this season. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Tyler' last='Netolicky'] (8.5, 6.9 rebounds) is the top returnee. His impact went well beyond his numbers last season, as he anchored the team defensively, providing some needed size. He'll need to have a big senior season if the Saints are going to remain competitive. [player_tooltip player_id='2325576' first='Dominic' last='D'Amico'] (1.3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2204878' first='Kaleb' last='Wilgenbusch'] (1.0) are the other notable returnees, while sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] should become impact players this season. Evans is a long, mobile big man at 6-6 who can defend multiple positions and rebound on both ends of the floor, while Murray is an elite shooting threat from deep. He could have some explosive scoring games for the Saints this season. There is some young talent in the program, and this year could turn into a building season for next year and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Kennedy<br>2. Senior<br>3. Iowa City West<br>4. Waterloo West<br>5. Xavier<br>6. Hempstead<br>7. Cedar Rapids Jefferson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis:</strong> Kennedy is the team to beat in the division, but Senior and West will have a say in the league race. Both have enough talent to push the Cougars on any given night. Senior gets the nod over West on the basis of a 30-point beatdown late in the regular season last year, with a significant amount of production from that game returning for the Rams, but it certainly wouldn't surprise us to see West take over the Rams there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (Iowa City West):</strong> A nationally ranked prospect in the 2025 class, McCaffery led West in scoring, rebounding, and blocks last season. He has a feathery stroke from deep and is a dynamic rim protector. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (Iowa City West)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376672' first='Jacob' last='Koch'] (Iowa City West)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171670' first='Kareem' last='Earl'] (Iowa City West)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1256297' first='TaeVeon' last='Stevens'] (Iowa City West)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765527' first='Julian' last='Manson'] (Iowa City West)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1376678' first='Jacob' last='Williams'] (Senior)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1172887' first='Tevin' last='Schultz'] (Senior)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381411' first='Jalen' last='Johnson'] (Senior)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1198430' first='Nicholas' last='Kennedy'] (Senior)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751083' first='Tyler' last='Netolicky'] (Xavier)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (Xavier)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171667' first='Joseph' last='Bean'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171687' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171679' first='Micah' last='Schlaak'] (Kennedy)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381415' first='Trey' last='McKowen'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288858' first='Marty' last='Blakey'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288851' first='Trevan' last='Krumrei'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1288854' first='Rashad' last='Gatewood'] (Kennedy)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381406' first='Landon' last='Deiters'] (Kennedy)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325410' first='Griffin' last='Gerdes'] (Kennedy)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759932' first='Reed' last='Strohmeyer'] (Hempstead)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381413' first='Jahlil' last='Manago'] (Waterloo West)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1440839' first='Joseph' last='Hudson'] (Waterloo West)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->